After 21 years in the fashion industry, Allen moved from New York to California and acquired his real estate license in 1986. He operated successfully in commercial real estate for 6 years on the westside of Los Angeles before moving to the Coachella Valley where he has continued his real estate career for the past 26 years. Specializing in sales and leasing, Allen has developed a property management business in Palm Desert, where he is also President of the Valley Industrial Park Owners Association.